Nintendo Wii U - review

[PaTaito]

I do think that we are still a very long way away from full scale Digital Distribution. I think for aslong as hight street/online retailers continiue to sell games then there will be the physical boxed game for a long time. The fact that broadband speeds are still pretty slow outside major cities is still a big problem and i dont see that being sorted for a while.

One thing i would like to see, and it most likely wont happen for obvious reasons but i do wish that when you buy a boxed game you also get a code inside the box that lets you also download it aswell. For example on the Wii U with the Gamepad, when im playing downstairs and i want to play something else i have to go back upstairs to change the disk. It would be brilliant if i had access to my whole game library on the fly.

You should check out the upgrade status of lots of villages. Mine is a small place in the sticks and its upgraded recently from 3mb(the average for the area was 1.5mb) to 10mb, and fibre is expected next year.

This is a nationwide thing, and very few people will struggle for speed a few years from now.

As for the code thing, when Sly 4 is released i will buy it on ps3 and receive the code for the Vita version free. Thats even better!

[Neon Ignition]

The only way online only will be nailed is when cloud gaming is perfected. With that solved publishers would still have to offset the huge loss of not having high street presence anymore and changing public spending habits which in itself is a huge hurdle. Guarantee if Sony and MS go online only after next gen Nintendo won't and Ninty would absolutely demolish them for sales. It'll happen one day sure, but it won't be quick and it won't be until comfortably after the music and film industries have 100% made the transition successfully (though music is getting there). Such change always takes a long time to occur. We heard online only when Apple hit big and 10 years later its made big in roads into the market but CDs still exist, same with Dvd killing cinema or PS2 rumoured as online only... and PS3.... and PS4.... now PS5. The main trouble is as yet there's no tangable benefits for the average consumer.

[wakka]

Why do you think games will be the slowest to adapt? They're the most high tech format, and cater to the most high tech audience - most of whom probably already have fast internet connections for online gaming.

When you think about how quickly 'storefronts' like Spotify and Netflix have become powerful forces for content distribution, it seems like it's only console games' proprietary distribution methods that are holding them back. I think Netflix is a much bigger threat to DVDs and Blu-Ray than any of these formats are to the cinema.

[Neon Ignition]

Games are the most high tech format though gamers aren't. A massive amount of game players aren't tech savvy and don't follow or understand the ins and outs of tech like those which a stronger interest level do. My wife will happily play Sonic but tell her to hook up an online set up, establish a solid connection, download a game and play and she'll tell you where to shove it. Its seperating complimentary distribution methods from replacement ones. Netflix is a huge success story with more and more subs being made... yet BluRay sales have increased again this year. Selling online only film distribution is a damn sight easier than with games as its a universal format with price pointing that suits disposable incomes better.

[PaTaito]

All that matters is that people have the capacity, connection, and user friendly interface to comfortably download anything thats available. If the average person can check emails, and buy online i see absolutely no reason why anyone should struggle purchasing on something as simple as XBLA/PSN/Wii etc.

In an age where a kid will be able to do all the above comfortably, and be savvy enough to rip their parents credit cards off in the process....its really not a big issue.

Also i dont think its correct comparing the music and film industries either. Games can be made to very high standards with low file sizes, but even if you dont scrimp on size, because the amount of games the average consumer owns is obviously going to be far less than the amount of movies, or albums....its a non issue thanks to it being a one off download here and there. Video and music are rather streamed with said services, and the bitrate requirements hold them back from being truly viable replacements to the video/audio purist.

[MisterBubbles]

Guys i seen the WiiU and the gamepad today, and i aint trolling, the resolution ( on gamepad ) looked absolute rubbish,i'd say the DS looked clearer and sharper, and the AMOLED Vita screen totally pwns it, is it meant to look crap? or its been set up wrong?

[Neon Ignition]

Thing is buying games online is as simple as on PSN/XBL already and yet bricks and mortar. Its the high cost of games that drives buyers to want to 'own' the product and want resell value both of which are lost with digital only and no doubt key reasons why it hasn't happened.

As for the Gamepad MrB, depends on what you played on it. Some stuff seems to stream at a lower res to the screen but theres also other stuff which looks brilliant on it, likely a quirk of 1st gen software. Generally though Id day it looks sharper than the 3ds screen though OLED is king

[JSR]

As for the Gamepad MrB, depends on what you played on it. Some stuff seems to stream at a lower res to the screen but theres also other stuff which looks brilliant on it, likely a quirk of 1st gen software. Generally though Id day it looks sharper than the 3ds screen though OLED is king

Everything is streaming at a fixed resolution, and the algorithm is always the same. It's a separate part of the OS which uses a locked amount of the processor and RAM to to this process. It doesn't matter what game you're playing or how graphically intensive the on-screen action is, the conversion process is always the same.

[originalbadboy]

Guys i seen the WiiU and the gamepad today, and i aint trolling, the resolution ( on gamepad ) looked absolute rubbish,i'd say the DS looked clearer and sharper, and the AMOLED Vita screen totally pwns it, is it meant to look crap? or its been set up wrong?

Its obviously not going to look as good as the Vita screen, but its miles better than a DS screen thats for sure!

[ETC]

Guys i seen the WiiU and the gamepad today, and i aint trolling, the resolution ( on gamepad ) looked absolute rubbish,i'd say the DS looked clearer and sharper, and the AMOLED Vita screen totally pwns it, is it meant to look crap? or its been set up wrong?

The vita does dump on it but its like pretty much the rest of the Wii u, good enough (just) wish for once they would not be so bloody tight though

[Neon Ignition]

If its always the same res being streamed I can only guess that games with more detail on screen fill the image better then as stuff like Black Ops 2 looks clearer on it than Sonic Transformed does

[PaTaito]

I wonder if there is a slim chance they might eventually release the machine with the choice of the tablet, or a pro pad?

I know its unlikely with first party games likely to force the control method on you, but surely many games will be just as functional without?

May help shift more consoles too.

Probably not, but i'm trying to gague how they will approach the price drop eventually. Then i keep forgetting how low tech the main unit is.

[Neon Ignition]

I think the Pro should be standard with Premiums at least, absolutely love it and can see me using it for practically anything that doesnt require the pad

[MisterBubbles]

I seen and played Rayman Legends demo, and watched Tekken TT2.

[J0e Musashi]

The Pro could be my favourite controller ever. Shame it doesn't work with NSMBU though. I don't see why it doesn't but Wiimote's do. Seems a bit dumb to me. I reckon they only created it to appease third parties.